(Photo courtesy: Desaraju Lakshmi)

The land of’ Bharat has given birth to

            many noble women like Savitri,

Who brought her dead husband back to life;

            Chandramati, who extinguished wild fire

            with power of truth;

Sita who proved her chastity

            by coming out of blazing fire unscathed

and Damayanti, who reduced an evil­-minded hunter

To ashes with the power of her chastity.

It is because of such women of character

Being the land of plenty, prosperity and opulence.

Among the Vratas (sacred vows) of Bharat,

The Varalakshmi Vrata has supreme’ significance.

(Telugu Poem)

Embodiments of Love!

Since time immemorial, the sacred land of Bharat has been enjoying peace and prosperity because of men and women of character. Bharat has always accorded an exalted’ position to the mother. The purohit (chief priest) made a mention of this in the morning during the course of Varalakshmi vrata.

Glory of Indian Womanhood Legend has it that Parvati once asked Ishvara if there was any way to ensure auspiciousness, prosperity and well-being of the women. She desired that every woman should lead a long, happy and healthy life with her husband, children, grandchildren, friends relatives. Ishvara was pleased with Parvati’s prayer and told her about the Varalakshmi vrata, which would confer all a woman may ask for. The particular vrata is a boon for all women. Women always strive hard for the welfare of their family. They always aspire for samata, samagrata, samaikyata and Saubhratrutva (equality, integrity, unity and fraternity). Their speech is truthful, their hearts are full of peace and their actions are righteous. Women, being the recipients of eight forms of wealth, confer prosperity and auspiciousness on the family, society and the world at large. You might have heard the story of Savitri, who with the power of her character, overcame many obstacles to bring her dead husband back to life. Even in this Age of Kali, it is the prayer of wives that protect their husbands in times of danger. Many women in the past performed Varalakshmi vrata with devotion and sincerity and became the recipients of the grace of goddess Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu and goddess of wealth). Sita came out of blazing fire unscathed when she was asked by Rama to undergo Agni pareeksha (the test of fire) to prove her chastity as Ravana had held her captive for ten months in Lanka. Though Rama, being omniscient, had no doubt regarding Sita’s chastity, he did so only in order to dispel doubts from the minds of people. Evil-minded people are like crows; they are full of doubts and pre-conceived notions. But will the cuckoo stop singing just because the crows are cawing? Likewise, the women of nobility and character are least perturbed by the criticism of the evil-minded people. They do not give scope for any doubts. Their pure heart is their witness and their sacred feelings their Dharma. They follow their conscience and adhere to truth and righteousness. This is the teaching of the culture of Bharat: Satyam vada, Dharmam chara (speak the truth and follow righteousness).

The Story of Anasuya and Sumati

You all know the story of Anasuya (wife of sage Atri). She was put to test by God Himself. The Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara went to her in disguise and begged, Bhavati Bhiksham Dehi (mother give us alms). When she was about to serve them food, they said that they would accept it only if she served them without wearing any clothes. Immediately, she transformed them into three infants and fed them as their wish. She could transform even Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara into small babies and play with them only because of her purity of heart and the power chastity. Ultimately, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati. wives of the Trinity, begged her that their husbands may be returned to them. Anasuya, being one of compassion yielded to their request. The Trinity blessed sage Atri and Anasuya, saying that they would be born to them in the form of Dattatreya. The name Dattatreya signifies one who is adopted by sage Atri.

Sumati was also a woman of chastity. She was pure-hearted and totally selfless. One day, a sage cursed her husband that he would die immediately after sunrise on the next day. She prayed to God with all sincerity and purity. It is only prayer that can atone man’s sins and save him from curse. Sumati prayed, ‘If my thoughts are pure and truthful, let there not be sunrise at all.’ As a result there was no sunrise and the entire world was engulfed in darkness. That is the power of women of chastity. All the gods and sages approached Sumati and prayed, ‘Mother, is it proper on your part to plunge the entire world into darkness for the sake of your husband?’ Sumati replied, ‘Without my husband, the world has no value for me.’ Only when the gods and sages assured her of the safety of her husband, did she allow the sun to rise. Thus, since ancient times, women of Bharat led an ideal life and proved to the world the power of chastity. Not only in the bygone ages, even in this Age of Kali, there are many women who are leading exemplary lives.

Vratas are givers of boons

Since ancient times, the women of Bharat have upheld the dignity and honour of the family and the community at large. The worship of goddess Varalakshmi earned them her grace and they could accomplish all this.

Varalakshmi is one who grants all the boons that women pray for. She confers on women all the eight types of wealth. Noble women like Savitri, Damayanti, Chandramati and Sumati accomplished mighty only due to the grace of Varalakshmi. Worship of Varalakshmi confers wealth, prosperity and bliss, But due to the effect of modern age, people do not adhere to such sacred practices. That is why their houses lack purity and sacredness. In Bharat, there is a proverb: ‘You can judge a housewife by looking at the house.’ In those days, housewife was considered to be grihalakshmi (goddess of the home) who kept her house sacred and unpolluted. It reflected her own purity.

Today, the food you eat, the water you drink and the air you inhale are all polluted. Man himself has become highly polluted as he has filled his mind with negative feelings, which are nothing but worldly desires. No doubt, one can have desires, but ‘they should be under certain limits. The letters that you write appear blue when the pen is filled with blue ink and red when it is filled with red ink. Likewise, all that you see, hear and say will become negative when your heart is filled with negative feelings. So, first of all fill your head with love. Then all that you see, hear, say and do will be suffused with love. Sarvam Prema Mayam Jagat (the whole world is permeated with love). So, you will find love everywhere. Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati (as is the feeling, so is the result). Today human heart has become a den of evil qualities like anger, hatred, greed, jealousy, pomp and show. Love alone can drive away .these negative qualities. Desire, anger, greed, jealousy, etc., arise out of body attachment and improper food habits. SO, one has to put a check over body attachment and control desires. It is said, less luggage more comfort make travel a pleasure. In order to have a comfortable journey of life, reduce the luggage of desires. One can have body attachment to some extent because the journey of life is undertaken with the help of the body. When one is living with family and friends, it is not possible to give up body attachment altogether .But one should lead a sacred life with the noble feelings of Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu (may the entire world be happy!)

All the powers that you find in the external world are present in man. The human body itself is a generator of electricity. The human mind can be compared to television and the heart to a radio. When a particular programme is broadcast on Delhi Radio Station, you are able to hear it at the same time by tuning your radio to the appropriate frequency. Today we have radios, but in those days, people considered their hearts as radios. So, make your hearts pure and sacred. All that you see in the external world visualized on the screen of your mind. So, the mind itself is a television. All the powers are latent I All that you see outside is nothing but the reflection and resound. When you criticize or abuse someone, it means you are seeing the reflection of your own bad feelings in him. Good and bad arise from within, they are not outside.

God is present in the Entire Creation

You can see your reflection in the mirror only when its rear is coated with a chemical. Your heart be compared to a mirror. It should be coated with chemical of love. Only then can you see your true self in it. Vedanta declares, Raso Vai Saha (He is sweetness Itself). Here is an example: When sugar and water mixed, it becomes syrup. The sugar and water become inseparable. Just as sugar is present in every drop the syrup, God is present in the entire creation. Ishvara revealed the secret of Varalakshmi vrata to Parvati in order to bestow peace and prosperity on all women. Performance of this vrata is easy, though it has, potency of giving great boons. You are all very fortunate to have performed it in a sacred place sanctified by the presence of Divinity. These practices have the desired effect if you do them in the prescribed manner with purity of heart. (SSS Vol.33 pp.169-176)

Ishvara revealed the sacred Varalakshmi vrata, to Parvati, so that the future generations might perform this vrata and derive the benefits there from. The purohit (chief priest) has enumerated the benefits which this vrata confers. When a woman performs the Varalakshmi vrata, she gets the blessings that she may live long with plenty and prosperity as sumangali (a woman whose husband is alive) with her children and grandchildren. Varalakshmi protects seven past generations and seven future generations. Noble women like Savitri and Anasuya enjoyed peace and prosperity by performing this sacred vrata. The purpose of Varalakshmi vrata is to atone your sins, develop sacredness and ultimately lead you to divinity. The culture of Bharat considers the word matha (mother) as most sacred. In times of suffering, one naturally calls out ‘Amma’ (mother), not ‘appa’ (father). The word Amma is most soothing and gentle. It bestows immense strength. The first word that a child utters is Amma or ma. That is why the culture of Bharat has accorded highest place to the mother ahead of father, teacher and God. None loves you as much as mother does. Mother’s love defies all description. Varalakshmi is extolled as Loka mata (Divine Mother of the world). All are her children. That is why Vedas address human beings as Amrutasya Putrah (sons of immortality).

When you lose the love and affection of your mother, your life will lose its direction like a rudderless boat. Mother is the source of all your strength. So, respect your mother and obey her command. If your mother is happy with you, the whole world will happy with you. If the mother is not pleased with you, you will become cheap in the eyes of the world. Do not be proud of your youth, beauty and physical power, Realise that very soon you will have to pass through old age. If you neglect your parents now, your children will neglect you.

Women are endowed with more powers

Varalakshmi vrata is performed by women. But men should not discourage them from performing this sacred vrata. They should provide all the necessary support. Its performance is beneficial not only to women, but also to men as women pray for the well-being and long life of their husbands. Men should not behave in an arrogant way towards women thinking themselves to be more strong and powerful. Truly speaking, women are more powerful than men. The scriptures declare that men have only three powers, whereas women have five. Women are ready to sacrifice even their life for the sake of their husbands. Savitri was ready to give up her life for the sake of her husband. But do we find such spirit of sacrifice in men? If one’s wife dies, he is ready to marry again. But women are not like that. They are the repositories of the five virtues of respect, dignity, sacrifice, contentment and prosperity. On the other hand, men are prone to evils of anger, stubbornness and foolishness. Women are the embodiment of virtue and nobility. Names of the Divine couples like Lakshmi Narayana, Radha Krishna and Parvati Parameshvara indicate that women are given place of priority over men.. That is why even in invitation cards, people write Shrimati and Shri (Mrs. and Mr.) and not the other way round. Prakriti symbolizes feminine aspect of God. Prakriti and Purusha are inseparable. As the women are the embodiments of Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), the world will attain prosperity only when respected. Therefore, men must treat women with respect, so that they will be respected in turn. You can see it yourself, where there are women of character, there you find all prosperity. You all know that many countries suffered destruction during the two world wars. It is entirely due to the presence of virtuous women that Bharat remained safe and secure. Bharat owes its greatness and glory to its. women. So respect women and make them happy.(SSS Vol.33, pp.183-186)

Let Me tell you frankly, I do not like this Lakshmi Puja, which people do expecting to grow rich and accumulate wealth. They even speak of Dhanalakshmi and have Stotrams to propitiate Her. Lakshmi or wealth accrues by fair means as well as foul; money is earned by gambling, by various deceit, by high-way robbery itself, by high and low, by all and sundry. Worship Lakshya. I shall appreciate you! Keep the Lakshya, the Goal of expanding your love till it embraces all beings, till it sees every being as your own self. Keep it ever steady before your mind eye; then Lakshmi will of her own accord favour you to the extent necessary for realising the Goal. Never doubt that. Never falter. (SA Vol.3, p.14)